Iranian Community Unites to Celebrate a New Beginning

In what is considered the largest celebration of the Iranian New Year outside that country, about 30,000 people gathered Sunday at William R. Mason Regional Park to honor tradition, renew friendships and hope for good luck.

On the 13th day of the Iranian New Year, Persian-speaking people throughout the world meet in parks, beaches and other outdoor settings; it is considered bad luck to be indoors on this day.

“This is the last day of the Iranian New Year, and we’re celebrating the rebirth of the Earth,” said Sudi Shoja, a member of the Network of Iranian Professionals of Orange County, which helped organize the event. “It’s not a religious celebration. It’s an Iranian tradition that goes back 2,500 years.”

Norouz, the new year, takes place on the vernal equinox, though the celebration lasts 13 days, culminating in Sezdeh Bedar, which took place Sunday.

Although the park’s lot filled before noon and many had to walk blocks to join the celebration, the mood was upbeat throughout the day as people danced to traditional Iranian music playing on boomboxes and dined on chicken and beef kebabs, corn-on-the-cob and traditional rice dishes. Police estimated that about 30,000 people attended the event.

About 50 Iranian businesses set up booths, selling food, artwork and other goods. But most people arrived with their own picnics, and simply came to meet with friends, families and the larger community.

“This day belongs to young people,” said Pari Mazarei of Orange, who used to be a teacher in Iran. “We gather together to introduce young people to each other and to teach them about Iranian traditions.”

On this day, single women are told to tie knots in the grass; it is a way to wish that by the same time next year, they will be married. Some women, like Nahid Mohammadi, who flew from New York City for the event, said she planned to carry out the grass-tying tradition.

Others were less eager to do so. “I don’t really want to find a husband right now,” said Afshan Tabazadeh, 24, of Los Angeles. “It’s just for fun. To me, this day is more about bonding with my family.”

Iranians also throw out wheat sprouts to symbolize the start of a new year.

“We bring the greens here and then throw it out, because we believe everything starts fresh now,” said Amir Sarbaz of Encino. “We wear new clothes and celebrate everything new.”

It was also a time for charity. The Network of Iranian Professionals of Orange County asked people throughout Southern California to take canned goods and other non-perishable food items to be donated to Orange County’s Food Distribution Center.

Carol Bishop, a coordinator for the Food Distribution Center, said: “It was very thoughtful of them to think of us.”